WOMAN OF PASSION: The handbag project

When I completed my Bachelor’s degree in economics and French at Kenyatta University in 2008, I worked briefly as a teacher.

I am among the thousands of Kenyans who are given no choice but to take up degree courses based on what they are admitted to university for. I found that teaching is truly a calling, and I celebrate all teachers for the work they do.

“Seeking something more fulfilling, I got involved in development work. My job was to develop credit information systems in Sub-Saharan Africa to open up access to finance for underprivileged businesspeople.

I was working with the World Bank at what I thought was my dream job, with all the bells and whistles.

“After just three years, it became clear that my heart was elsewhere. I had questions about my impact in reducing poverty in the community.

My weakness is people, especially young, talented Kenyans. I feel that I need to help by creating opportunities.

I felt I could have more of a direct impact as an individual rather than as part of a large, international organisation. My goal was to create competitive employment for the talented crafters and tailors in Kenya.

“Art and fashion was an obvious choice for me because I have always loved the arts.

However, because these fields were traditionally unconventional and a reserve for ‘renegades’, I stayed in mainstream career paths as was expected by society. In my development work travels to West Africa, my fire for creativity was fueled to feverish levels.

West Africa is a boiling pot of culture, arts, literature, music and fashion that hits you smack in the face. It is so intense, and I couldn’t resist the lure.

Leaving employment

“In May 2012 I left formal employment and decided to (sell) beautiful Kenyan bags. Wazawazi was born.

Wazawazi is a play on two Swahili words: ‘Waza’ which means to think, and ‘Wazi’ which means to be open – in this case, open minded, free and true in how you express yourself and embrace others.

Wazawazi is a happy place where people come together through functional leather art and fashion.  If I explain what Wazawazi is to a child, I would tell them that we are artists who tell the world how awesome Africa is, because, as Africans we must own our heritage. 

“I had some savings from my employment days and that got me started. I bought my first machines and jumped into the deep end. It’s not so hard if you think about it, it’s just a pool, not an ocean. Getting started is not the hard part, it is the going forward that is the trick.

When my mother and grandmother found out that I was leaving employment, they panicked. They are my biggest fans now. 

“Initially, I made free items for my family and friends. After four months of freebies, I got a big order and I celebrated. I was under the impression that I had arrived and the business had finally taken off. But as I now know, business has ups and downs, and often more downs than ups! The going got especially bad when a family member fell sick for almost two years and if the business did not collapse then, Wazawazi must be here to stay.

“All successful businesses have gone through extremely hard times. The difference is in our resilience and determination to succeed. My kids have been home several times due to lack of school fees while I awaited payment on invoices. My dear friend Vicky Chepkonga has fed the kids and I more times than we can remember.

I sold my car to inject much-needed cash into the business. I have a team of eight colleagues and when times were hard I would have to use savings and loans to pay their salaries. 

“I cannot understate the most important role my life partner played in holding me up unto this point. I have amazing mentors in all fields, from my Craft Africa instructor, Christine Gitau, Makena Mwiraria of African Heritage, Zohra Baraka of Mohazo Crafts and even my dentist Nisha Sapra.

My family and friends are always there for me during very hard times, positively criticising and pushing me to produce better products.

I don’t know how it would have been if they had not collectively believed in my madness, because I think that entrepreneurship is good madness.

Trial and error

“After a lot of trial and error I got organised as an entrepreneur and learned to cultivate self-discipline. I work with a professional accounting firm who ensure my books are in order.

I have a fairly sustainable routine; we open the workshop at 7am, work on projects lined up and close the workshop at 4pm. I try not to work at home.

“I am inspired by nature, people and mistakes. Some of the most beautiful products did not start out this way; they morphed from dying moths to butterflies.

Beyond design, I have learnt to turn challenges into opportunities.

I especially loved what Tabitha Karanja of Keroche Industries told me: “Dream bigger than yourself; that way you will create something that will outlive you.”

“In five years, I would like to have developed a strong pan African leather goods and collectable home art brand.

I would like to send these packages all over the world, and hopefully, all those that open these packages will see the face of Kenya and fall in love.

Currently, our bags have retailed in Finland, Australia, USA, Canada, South Africa, Nigeria and England, among other locations. We also sell them at luxury hotel boutiques within Kenya and on our website.

“I would like to encourage women to dare to dream. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth every tear and every bead of sweat.

I love being self-employed and creating functional art, and wouldn’t change a thing.

Even more important, I am driven by the fact that I am contributing positively and sustainably to the development of my country.

Be true to yourself and stand out. Form a strong support system because you cannot do it alone -- you must lead your team because they will feed off your enthusiasm.

An old adage says that if you do what you love, you will never have to work a single day. This couldn’t be truer. So go out there and be awesome!”